School-desk.



PATENTBD JUNE 16, 1903.

-J. A. MQLA'UGHLIN.

SCHOOL DESK. APPLIO A TION PILBD OUT. 11 1902.

.NO-MODBL WITNESSES co. PHOTUUTNO WASNINGYON n UNITED STATES PatentedJune 16, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

SCHOOL-DESK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 731,206, dated June 16,1903.

Application filed October 11, 1902. Serial No. 126,914. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES A. MOLAUGHLIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Statesboro, in the county ofBulloch and State 5 ofGeorgia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSchool-Desks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to whichit apl pertains to make and use the same, referencebeing bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to construct I a desk in the interest ofcomfort and good health for scholars and others requiring a desk-surfacewhich may be set at varying angles and which will also be cheap anddurable. My desk is vertically and laterally adjustable in its entirebody, and its top is in addition capable of being tilted and movedforward and backward.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention, in which- Figure 1is a reduced side elevation; Fig. 2, an end of an arm and batten; Fig.3, asection on line a: a: of Fig. 1 viewed from the front. Fig. 4 is anenlarged detail of the lifting device, and Fig. 5 is the front of thetop 0 and its connections.

Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in the severalviews.

A indicates the fixed vertical post which supports the desk. Itpreferably stands on 5 three legs A, is hollow, and has bearings a forthe shaft of a small sprocket-wheel B, having a thumb-piece b, by whichthe wheel is turned. The teeth of wheel B engage the teeth 0 of post 0,which moves vertically in the post A.

O isra set-screw to tighten the post 0 in the base-post A. A framehaving the back D and arms at cl is supported by the post 0 and ispreferably cast integrally with it, the 5 middle of the back D restingon the post.

The arms 61 are somewhat tapered and inclined downward toward the front.They are furnished also with lateral pins d d near their ends on theouter side. The top E is strengthened by battens F, having verticalflanges f, provided with inclined slots f to engage pins (1 at the rearof the arms (2. These pins and slots hold the rear part of the topsecurely on the frame, but permit a forward and backward movementthereof. The front part of the top is held by pins d*, which engageslots gin cams G. These cams are fixed on a rod H, which extends acrossthe front part of the frame and is journaled' in hangers on the arms cl.The cams have peripheral teeth to engage ratchetsf on the battens, andon one or both is provided a short lever g, by the operation of whichthe top is brought up to a level and pushed backward and forward,asshown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The movement is stopped at anydesired point by the engagement of a pin on a spring 1', fixed on theframe, with notches i on the cam. A spring K, fixed on the under side ofthe top outside of the frame, supports an inkreceptacle is against ahole in the top.

What I claim, and desire to secure, is-

1. In a deskhaving a normally inclined and adjustable top a shaftsuitably journaled across the front of the desk, cams thereon havingperipheral teeth, ratchets on the under side of the top engaged by saidteeth and a lever to operate the cams, whereby the top is raised to alevel and moved backward and forward and lowered again as described.

2. In a desk having an inclined top a shaft journaled across its frontpart, cams on said shaft peripheral teeth on the cams, ratchets on theunder side of the top engaged by said teeth, a curved slot in each cam,pins on the top adapted to engage said slot and means to operate, saidcams, 'for the purpose herein set forth.

3. In a vertically-adjustable desk having a movable top, a shaftjournaled across its front part, cams on said shaft, peripheral teeth onsaid cams, ratchets on the top engaged by said teeth, curved slotsin thecams, pins on the top to engage said slots, battens on the top, flangeson said battens, straight slots in said flanges, pins on the desk-frameto engage said straight slots and a lever toactuate said cams for thepurpose specified.

In testimony whereof- I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES A. MOLAUGHLIN.

Witnesses:

ALLEN O. CLARK, APPLETON P. CLARK.

